Indonesian Archipelago Ferries, Bali Straits & Volcanic Lakes

The world-famous fast boat passage across the deep Lombok Strait and the Wallace Line, connecting mainland Bali to the motor-free coral islands of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Lombok.

The vital maritime bridge carrying millions of travelers, road-trippers, and fresh produce between the island of Java and the island of Bali across the narrow Bali Strait.

The slow public car ferry between Bali and Lombok. It is much cheaper than the fast boats and the only way to take a car or motorbike across the Lombok Strait. Expect basic facilities and variable timings.

The standard day-trip crossing from Bali to Nusa Penida for Kelingking Beach and Angel’s Billabong: fast boats leave Sanur Harbour and reach Penida in about half an hour.

Rocky Fast Cruise runs jetty-to-jetty from Sanur to its own harbour at Telatak on Lembongan’s east side, avoiding the beach landings common on this crossing.

The quiet-island option from Bali’s east-coast harbour: fast boats leave Padang Bai each morning and call at Gili Trawangan or Gili Meno before landing on Gili Air, the most relaxed of the three Gilis.

The quickest fast-boat link from Bali to Lombok’s main west-coast beach town: Eka Jaya runs three daily departures from Padang Bai to Senggigi, the fastest taking 1h 15m.

An east-Bali alternative to the Sanur boats: Eka Jaya’s afternoon sailing crosses from Padang Bai to Banjar Nyuh on Nusa Penida in half an hour, convenient for travellers already on Bali’s east coast.

Eka Jaya’s afternoon boat links Padang Bai with the Yellow Bridge landing between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, avoiding the drive across Bali to the Sanur fast-boat beach.

The south-Bali route to the Gilis: boats leave Serangan in Denpasar, much closer to the airport and the Kuta–Seminyak hotels than Padang Bai. Eka Jaya’s fastest sailings take 2h 30m, while Gili Getaway’s island line calls at Nusa Penida, Gili Gede and Senggigi on the way.

Two morning boats run from south Bali’s Serangan harbour to Gili Air, the calmest of the three Gilis. Both call at other islands on the way, so it is a longer ride than from Padang Bai but saves the drive east.

A direct sea link between south Bali and Lombok’s west-coast resort strip, avoiding both Padang Bai and the slow public ferry to Lembar. Gili Getaway and Eka Jaya both land at Senggigi harbour.

A rare scheduled boat to the “Secret Gilis” off south-west Lombok: Gili Getaway’s island line stops at Gili Gede after Nusa Penida, reaching the Ko Ko Mo jetty just over two hours after leaving Bali.

Serangan, on the island just south of Sanur, is an alternative Bali harbour for Nusa Penida: Eka Jaya’s 07:30 and Gili Getaway’s 08:00 boats stop at Penida first and then carry on to Lombok and the Gilis.

Island-hop straight from Nusa Penida to the Gilis without returning to mainland Bali: three operators run daily boats across the Lombok Strait, letting travellers combine Penida’s cliffs and manta dives with Gili Trawangan in one trip.

The direct hop from Nusa Lembongan to Gili Trawangan: Eka Jaya picks up at the Yellow Bridge each morning and lands on the Gili just over two hours later, with Semaya One adding a late-morning boat.

For travellers heading from Nusa Penida’s cliffs straight to the calmest of the Gilis: all three services stop at other islands on the way, so the crossing takes about three hours or more.

A direct morning link from Nusa Penida to Lombok’s west coast: Eka Jaya and Gili Getaway both run Penida to Senggigi in about two hours, saving a return trip through Bali.

Gili Getaway’s island line links Gili Trawangan with Senggigi on Lombok’s west coast once a day: about an hour heading south from Gili Trawangan at noon, and about 30 minutes north from Senggigi in the late morning.

Eka Jaya runs a daily fast boat from Nusa Lembongan straight across the Lombok Strait to Senggigi, leaving at 09:00 and arriving at 10:30. The return leaves Senggigi at 13:30 and reaches Lembongan at 15:00.

Lembongan to Gili Air without backtracking to Bali: Eka Jaya’s morning boat from the Yellow Bridge calls at Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno before reaching Gili Air, and Semaya One adds a late-morning sailing.

Sanur’s beach harbour, the main fast-boat hub for Nusa Penida, also has a direct boat to the Gilis: Semaya One leaves Sanur at 12:30 every day and calls at Nusa Penida and Senggigi on the way to Gili Trawangan, saving the drive to Padang Bai.

Semaya One’s daily 12:30 boat from Sanur reaches quiet Gili Air after stops at Nusa Penida, Senggigi, Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno — a one-ticket way from south Bali’s beach harbour to the most relaxed of the three Gilis.

Indonesia’s state shipping line Pelni links Surabaya with Makassar several times a week, its big passenger liners crossing the Java Sea overnight in about 26 to 29 hours — the classic sea route from Java to Sulawesi, with economy berths from Rp 357,500.

Pelni’s KM Kelud links Jakarta with Batam once a week, leaving Tanjung Priok on Friday night and docking at Batu Ampar on Sunday morning after about 32 hours — then sailing on to Tanjung Balai Karimun and Belawan (Medan).

The hop between the biggest and the most laid-back of the three Gilis is short: boats cross the narrow channel past Gili Meno in about 15 minutes. Scoot Fast Cruises sells the leg on its daily 12:45 boat from Gili Trawangan.

Gili Meno, the quietest of the three Gilis, sits just across a narrow channel from Gili Trawangan — about 10 to 15 minutes by boat. Scoot Fast Cruises sells the hop on its daily 12:45 departure.

Bangsal, on Lombok’s north-west coast, is the mainland harbour for the Gilis. The Karya Bahari co-operative’s public boats leave for Gili Trawangan every 30 minutes, and the crossing is short — the cheapest way onto the islands from Lombok.

Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida face each other across the narrow Toyapakeh Strait, a 15-minute boat ride apart. Semaya One’s daily 13:15 boat from Lembongan lands at Banjar Nyuh on Penida’s north-west coast, and local boats shuttle across through the day.

Pelni’s KM Kelud sails from Batam to Belawan, the port of Medan, once a week, leaving Batu Ampar on Sunday at noon and arriving on Monday afternoon after about 28 hours, with a call at Tanjung Balai Karimun on the way.

Pelni’s KM Awu links Surabaya with Bima on Sumbawa every two weeks, calling at Denpasar (Benoa, Bali) on the way; the voyage takes a little over two days, with economy berths from about Rp 345,500.

Pelni’s big liners link Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok with Makassar, the gateway to Sulawesi, in a little over two days, calling at Surabaya on the way.

Pelni’s KM Kelud sails weekly from Jakarta to Belawan, the port of Medan, via Batam and Tanjung Balai Karimun: Friday night out of Tanjung Priok, Monday afternoon into North Sumatra.

Four and a half days across the archipelago: Pelni’s KM Labobar and KM Nggapulu sail from Jakarta to Ambon in Maluku, calling at Surabaya, Makassar and Bau-Bau on the way.

Pelni’s eastern liners finish their runs along Java’s north coast, so Surabaya to Jakarta by sea is a regular overnight-and-a-day trip of about 23 to 27 hours on ships such as KM Gunung Dempo and KM Dobonsolo.

The long way to West Timor: Pelni’s KM Awu and KM Lawit sail from Surabaya to Kupang in four days or more, calling at Bali (Benoa), Bima, Waingapu on Sumba and Ende on Flores.

Pelni’s KM Bukit Raya crosses the Java Sea from Surabaya to Pontianak in West Kalimantan every two weeks, direct, in just under two days.

From Kupang on Timor to Kalabahi on Alor, the dive island of East Nusa Tenggara: Pelni’s KM Awu does it in a day (about 12 hours) and KM Wilis overnight.

From Labuan Bajo, the Komodo gateway on Flores, west to Bima on Sumbawa: a seven-to-nine-hour hop on whichever Pelni liner is passing — KM Wilis, Tilongkabila, Binaiya or Leuser.

Pelni’s KM Wilis links Labuan Bajo with Ende on Flores’ south coast — the town for Kelimutu’s coloured lakes — by sea, looping via Bima and Sumba’s Waikelo and Waingapu in just under two days.

The slow, cheap way from Bali to Komodo country: Pelni liners leave Benoa for Labuan Bajo on Flores, calling at Bima on Sumbawa, in about a day and a half.

Across the Lesser Sundas from Bali to Kupang on Timor with Pelni’s KM Awu or KM Lawit, calling at Bima, Waingapu and Ende on the way.

Pelni’s KM Labobar, KM Leuser and KM Nggapulu sail between Makassar and Ambon, calling at Bau-Bau; the trip takes about 1 day 18h – 3 days 3h. Ambon is the capital of Maluku and the hub for boats to the Banda Islands, Seram and Buru.

Pelni’s KM Labobar and KM Sangiang sail between Ambon and Banda Neira; the trip takes about 8h – 16h. Banda Neira is the main town of the Banda Islands, the old nutmeg islands.

Pelni’s KM Ciremai and KM Sirimau sail between Ambon and Sorong; the trip takes about 19h – 1 day 8h. Sorong is the gateway to Raja Ampat.

Pelni’s KM Ciremai, KM Dobonsolo, KM Gunung Dempo and KM Sinabung sail between Sorong and Jayapura (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 1 day 18h – 2 days 5h. Jayapura is the capital of Papua province, near the border with Papua New Guinea.

Pelni’s KM Dobonsolo, KM Gunung Dempo and KM Sinabung sail between Sorong and Manokwari; the trip takes about 12h – 14h. Manokwari is the capital of West Papua province.

Pelni’s KM Dobonsolo, KM Gunung Dempo and KM Sinabung sail between Manokwari and Jayapura (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 1 day 5h – 1 day 15h. Jayapura is the capital of Papua province.

Pelni’s KM Dobonsolo and KM Sinabung sail between Biak and Jayapura; the trip takes about 19h. Biak is an island at the mouth of Cenderawasih Bay.

Pelni’s KM Dobonsolo and KM Sinabung sail between Sorong and Biak, calling at Manokwari; the trip takes about 23h – 1 day. Biak is an island at the mouth of Cenderawasih Bay.

Pelni’s KM Nggapulu, KM Sangiang and KM Sinabung sail between Bitung and Ternate; the trip takes about 10h – 23h. Bitung is the port for Manado; Ternate is the main town of North Maluku.

Pelni’s KM Sinabung sails between Ternate and Sorong, calling at Babang; the trip takes about 23h. Sorong is the gateway to Raja Ampat.

Pelni’s KM Labobar and KM Leuser sail between Ambon and Tual (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 23h – 2 days 11h. Tual is the main town of the Kei Islands in southeast Maluku.

Pelni’s KM Labobar and KM Leuser sail between Tual and Dobo; the trip takes about 7h – 12h. Dobo is the main town of the Aru Islands.

Pelni’s KM Labobar sails between Tual and Kaimana, calling at Dobo; the trip takes about 19h. Kaimana is a small port town on the south coast of West Papua.

Pelni’s KM Leuser sails between Tual and Timika, calling at Dobo; the trip takes about 1 day 14h. Pomako is the port of Timika in Central Papua.

Pelni’s KM Leuser and KM Tatamailau sail between Timika and Merauke; the trip takes about 1 day 21h – 2 days. Merauke is Indonesia’s easternmost city, in South Papua.

Pelni’s KM Ciremai and KM Dorolonda sail between Jayapura and Serui; the trip takes about 18h. Serui is the main town of Yapen island in Cenderawasih Bay.

Pelni’s KM Nggapulu and KM Sangiang sail between Ambon and Namlea (Buru); the trip takes about 5h – 10h. Namlea is the main town of Buru island.

Pelni’s KM Nggapulu and KM Sangiang sail between Ternate and Ambon (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 20h – 2 days 16h. Ternate is the main town of North Maluku; Ambon is the capital of Maluku.

Pelni’s KM Dobonsolo, KM Labobar, KM Lambelu, KM Leuser, KM Nggapulu, KM Sinabung and KM Tilongkabila sail between Makassar and Bau-Bau; the trip takes about 14h – 23h. Bau-Bau is the main town on Buton island, off southeast Sulawesi.

Pelni’s KM Ciremai, KM Labobar, KM Leuser, KM Nggapulu and KM Sirimau sail between Bau-Bau and Ambon (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 23h – 2 days 1h. Bau-Bau on Buton is a regular stop for liners heading east to Maluku and Papua.

Pelni’s KM Bukit Siguntang and KM Lambelu sail between Makassar and Balikpapan, calling at Parepare; the trip takes about 23h – 1 day. Balikpapan is East Kalimantan’s oil city and the nearest big port to Nusantara, the new capital.

Pelni’s KM Kelimutu and KM Lawit sail between Semarang and Kumai; the trip takes about 1 day 1h – 1 day 6h. Kumai is the river port for Tanjung Puting National Park’s orangutan boat trips.

Pelni’s KM Awu, KM Kelimutu and KM Lawit sail between Surabaya and Kumai; the trip takes about 1 day 3h – 1 day 5h. Kumai is the river port for Tanjung Puting National Park’s orangutan boat trips.

Pelni’s KM Kelimutu sails between Semarang and Pontianak; the trip takes about 1 day 21h. Pontianak is the capital of West Kalimantan, on the equator.

Pelni’s KM Kelimutu sails between Jakarta and Belitung (Tanjung Pandan); the trip takes about 19h – 20h. Tanjung Pandan is the main town of Belitung island, known for its granite-boulder beaches.

Pelni’s KM Bukit Raya sails between Jakarta and Bintan (Kijang), calling at Belinyu; the trip takes about 1 day 21h. Kijang is on the east coast of Bintan island in the Riau Islands.

Pelni’s KM Binaiya, KM Leuser, KM Tilongkabila and KM Wilis sail between Makassar and Labuan Bajo; the trip takes about 18h – 1 day. Labuan Bajo is the base for Komodo National Park boat trips.

Pelni’s KM Bukit Siguntang and KM Lambelu sail between Makassar and Maumere (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 20h – 1 day 6h. Maumere is the largest town in eastern Flores.

Pelni’s KM Awu, KM Lawit and KM Wilis sail between Kupang and Ende (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 13h – 1 day 2h. Ende on Flores is the nearest port to the Kelimutu crater lakes.

Pelni’s KM Awu, KM Lawit and KM Wilis sail between Kupang and Waingapu, calling at Ende; the trip takes about 1 day – 1 day 14h. Waingapu is the main town of East Sumba.

Pelni’s KM Bukit Siguntang and KM Lawit sail between Kupang and Lewoleba; the trip takes about 8h – 12h. Lewoleba is the main town of Lembata island, east of Flores.

Pelni’s KM Awu, KM Binaiya, KM Lawit and KM Wilis sail between Bima and Waingapu (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 14h – 21h. Waingapu is the main town of East Sumba.

Pelni’s KM Lambelu sails between Balikpapan and Palu (Pantoloan) (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 13h – 2 days 10h. Pantoloan is the port for Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi.

Pelni’s KM Bukit Siguntang and KM Lambelu sail between Balikpapan and Tarakan (some sailings call at other ports on the way); the trip takes about 1 day – 1 day 10h. Tarakan is an island city in North Kalimantan, near the Malaysian border.

Pelni’s KM Bukit Siguntang and KM Lambelu sail between Parepare and Balikpapan; the trip takes about 15h – 16h. Parepare is South Sulawesi’s second port, north of Makassar.

Pelni’s KM Tilongkabila sails between Kendari and Bau-Bau, calling at Raha; the trip takes about 12h. Kendari is the capital of Southeast Sulawesi; Bau-Bau is the main town on Buton.

Pelni’s KM Leuser and KM Sirimau sail between Bau-Bau and Wakatobi (Wanci); the trip takes about 9h. Wanci on Wangi-Wangi is the main town of the Wakatobi islands, known for diving.

Pelni’s KM Bukit Raya sails between Bintan (Kijang) and Tarempa (Anambas), calling at Letung; the trip takes about 18h. Tarempa is the main town of the remote Anambas Islands.